Book throws light on rich flora of Koraput

BERHAMPUR: Thanks to a decade-long efforts by a group of three botanists, the unique rich and diverse vegetation of undivided Koraput district of south Orissa could be documented for the first time. These botanists are M.K. Mishra of Botany Department of Berhampur University and two former research scholars of the department -- P.K. Das and S.S. Das. These researchers have compiled their ten-year-long taxonomic research in the book ‘Phytodiversity and useful plants of Eastern Ghats of Orissa with special reference to Koraput region’. The book was released at a function organised on the university campus by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Bijay Kumar Sahu. He described the book as a milestone in the documentation of flora of country. Prof. Mishra described the importance of undivided Koraput region of Orissa in the natural heritage of India.
This region is the convergence point of northern temperate vegetation with southern Deccan flora. As a result, it has an ample array of rich and diverse flora. Botanists believe that there are several plants which have originated in this region thousands of years ago. Father of green revolution in India, M.S. Swaminathan, has in the past has described Koraput as one of the regions where rice may have originated. “Nature still exists in its virgin form in this tribal region as the ethnic tribes continue to protect the flora and fauna around them,” Prof. Mishra said.
Koraput region of Orissa encompasses an area of 26,920 sq km, which is now divided into four tribal dominated districts. Most areas and vegetation of the region has remained unexplored till now. Prof. Mishra and his associates reached out to several inaccessible areas to collect the samples for their research. Their book describes about 582 plants of 324 genera and 100 families which are found in the region.They have also located around a dozen of extremely rare plants.
Call to people
The botanists called upon the people of Orissa to protect this rich flora of Koraput region, which the tribals have protected till date because of their traditional beliefs.
Courtesy: The Hindu

Seminar on global warming organised in Koraput

KORAPUT: Global warming is happening faster than ever and humans are responsible for it, said, K. C. Panigrahy, convener, Orissa Chapter of Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) while addressing a seminar on global warming and climate change organised by INTACH at tribal museum, Koraput as a part of its nation wide observation of ‘International Day for climate action’ on Saturday. Among others, P. C. Mahapatro, director, COATS , Umakant Das, retired teacher and Jagabandhu Samal, tribal researcher from Koraput also spoke.
Courtesy:The Hindu

SKCG college students’ agitation continues

BERHAMPUR: All education institutions of Paralakhemundi, district headquarters town of Gajapati district, remained closed on October 20 due to continuing agitation by students of the Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati (SKCG) Autonomous College of the town.
The students of the SKCG Autonomous College are boycotting classes and continuing agitation since past one week. They had given this call for closure of all educational institutions in the town. The students of the college picketed before the Women’s College and other education institutes to get them closed.
Students of SKCG Autonomous College have launched agitation demanding better infrastructure in the college and filling of all vacant posts.
Courtesy: The Hindu

TTDB wishes you on the Auspicious Occasion of Diwali

TARATARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Regd. No. : GJM No. - 7177-A – 676/2002-2003 Hillpatna, Berhampur – 5, (Ganjam), Orissa(0680) 2215168, Website: http:/taratarini.nic.in The “Tara Tarini Development Board” takes great pleasure in wishing you on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights.

May this Diwali bring you the brightest sparkles of happiness and fulfillment.
May this Diwali bring joy and good health and brighten up you and your near and dear ones lives.
May this Diwali bring you the utmost in peace and prosperity.
May lights triumph over darkness.
May peace transcend the earth.
May the spirit of light illuminate the world.

May the divine blessings of Adi Shakti Maa TaraTarini be ever upon you!

Online booking of rail tickets at post offices in South Orissa

BERHAMPUR: Post offices would bring railways closer to people of Aska, Phulbani and Boudh in south Orissa, although no railway track passes through these areas.

The Indian Post and Indian Railways have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to start an online railway ticket booking facility at post offices at Aska in Ganjam district, Phulbani in Kandhamal district and Boudh in Boudh district. Interior areas of Ganjam district as well as Kandhamal and Boudh districts of south Orissa do not have any access to railways. Post Master General of Berhampur postal region S.K.Kamila said this facility would enable the inhabitants of these areas book railway tickets in advance for their long journeys by train. It would also provide extra revenue and increase of public utility of these post offices.

The railway ticket booking facility is expected to be started in these three post offices within next one month. It may be noted that till now the post office at Sundergarh is the only post office in the State to have online railway ticket booking facility. Mr Kamila informed about it at a customers’ meet organised by the Indian Post in the city on Wednesday night.

He also announced that Gopalpur sub-post office in Ganjam district was among the three post offices in the top rank for providing services to customers under ‘Project Arrow’.

SOURCE: THE HINDU

South Orissa’s Sivakasi all set for fireworks

Nalabanta, a tiny village on the outskirts of Aska, is known as Sivakasi of South Orissa for manufacturing fireworks in huge quantity. Making fireworks is almost a way of life here. The inhabitants, mostly poor, make a quick buck by manufacturing fireworks during Diwali and sundry other functions. A number of mishaps due to blasts has failed to deter the people from ‘playing with fire’. Rather they have taken the mishaps in their stride.
During last three decades, at least 25 villagers have died due to blasts while manufacturing crackers. The deceased include women and children. The blasts normally occur just before the Diwali. Though manufacturing fireworks is household business here, the village has only a handful of licensed firework manufacturers. The rest have been manufacturing fireworks illegally for decades. Of late, the number of accidents during manufacture of fireworks has multiplied due to involvement of unskilled workers. The elders of the village feel that the small-time fireworks makers should form a cooperative to get licence to manufacture fireworks in an organised way so that the risks can be minimised. But no attempt has been made in this direction yet. Villagers make fireworks as per order for various occasions like marriages, rallies and idol immersions apart from Diwali. But they eagerly wait for Diwali as it is their main source of income.
Fireworks were first manufactured in the village under the patronage of king of Dharakote. Later after independence, the villagers took it up as a profession. They earn up to Rs 50 lakh a year, most of which is earned around Diwali. The finished goods are supplied throughout Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
The village is known for manufacturing hugely popular “Aska Chakra”, an innovative cracker made of palm leaves. This cracker spins like a “chakra”, rises high like a rocket and explodes mid-air.
The village usually takes centrestage during Diwali. But this year it is in the news much before the Festival of Lights due to a different reason. Police have cracked down on illegal fireworks manufacturers in the village. Three platoons of armed police led by revenue officials raided five cracker-making units in the village and seized explosive materials worth around Rs 5 lakhs. Two persons were detained for interrogation. Last month, police had seized fireworks worth around Rs 2 lakh.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express

South Orissa gambles to keep the goddess of wealth happy

BERHAMPUR: Laxmi Puja festivities are incomplete without a bout of gambling in Southern Orissa districts. Night-long gambling is more like a ritual encouraged even by parents.
While Mahalaxmi is worshipped during the day, gambling dominates the festivities at night. Regardless of changes in fortune, people of these districts have an inexplicable urge to try their luck in the number's game.

Prakash Chandra Panda, a businessman in Gate Bazaar of Berhampur,says, "Even parents encourage their children to gamble on Kumar Purnima day which coincides with Laxmi Puja. They provide them with money to gamble."

Many believe Mahalaxmi can be invoked only through gambling. Interestingly, people go for gambling wearing new clothes.

Gambling goes on for several days in most villages during the festival of Kumar Purnima, observed five days after Dussehra. Often, it begins during the run-up to Dussehra and continues till Diwali. The police turn a blind eye to these activities. "It's a social and traditional occasion taking place in homes and so the police take a liberal stance," said a senior police officer. "Organised gambling in public places, however, will not be tolerated," said S P (Berhampur) R K Sharma.

Naveen announces new projects for Gajapati and Kandhamal

BERHAMPUR: The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday declared to start up two special developmental projects for Kandhamal and Gajapati districts of south Orissa. He made this declaration at a public meeting held at Phulbani during his one day visit to Kandhamal district. These two new projects are named Biju Kandhamal Yojana and Biju Gajapati Yojana. As per Mr. Patnaik both these projects would be totally financed by the State government on the lines of the Biju KBK Yojana for the KBK districts.
Mr. Patnaik said he as well as the people of Kandhamal and Gajapati districts had demanded to be included in the KBK yojana during the NDA as well as UPA government rules at the center.
“As Central governments could not realise the need of special developmental programmes for these two underdeveloped districts, the State government took independent steps for it,” he said.

Under this new programme every block of these two districts would be provided Rs. 1.5 crore. This money would be utilised for development of infrastructure like roads, electricity and drinking water in these under developed regions.